Four weeks until ‘The Silence of Bones’ debut!
Hello friends!
I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well. I know many of us, including myself, are practicing self-isolation. It helps to remember that this is temporary, and that this is for the good of others, especially for elderly individuals and those with weaker immune systems.
And for those that feel overwhelmed for whatever reason, here is a photo of Baby Jo to cheer you up! She was getting a bit fussy from being home all day, until we gave her a snack, then she brightened up in an instant!
Now on to the bookish news: We're now ONE month away from the publication of The Silence of Bones. It's still hard to believe that this book will be out on shelves soon!
Growing up, my parents would take my siblings and I to libraries and bookstores, and I'd spend hours browsing the shelves. Finding a gem of a book was (and still is) one of the most wonderful feelings ever. It's like opening a wardrobe door to find that it leads into a magical world, or it's like finding that one friend you've been searching for all your life. That's why it's such a privilege to know that my book will be out in the wild soon — out there waiting as a gift for someone somewhere.
With that said, the health crisis we're going through right now has made debuting difficult for many authors. Events are getting cancelled, bookstore launches are being postponed (or cancelled entirely), and there's this overall fear that our books will get buried under all the panic. Of course, this is a small issue compared to the growing and legitimate concerns for the lives of others. But still, this is a dream many of us authors have been striving toward for years.
That's why it would mean so much to me if those interested in my book could offer a helping hand. Please tell your friends about THE SILENCE OF ONES! Tell your libraries! Pre-order it! Or add it onto Goodreads!
Also, please, if you can, order books from your local bookstore. Indie bookstores are getting hit hard by this crisis. For example, if you live in downtown Toronto, you can order books from TYPE BOOKS and they'll deliver it to you. Or if you live in the States, you could consider ordering from QUEEN ANNE BOOK COMPANY :)
Playlist for The Silence of Bones
I promised people over on Twitter that I'd share the Spotify playlist for my debut in this newsletter, so here it is! I'll be sharing this list publicly closer to the launch, but for now, you get early access to it <3
I listened to this list on repeat while I worked on my debut. Music helps me maintain a consistent tone as I write, so this will give you a glimpse into the overall vibe of the book. I hope you'll enjoy!
My All-time Favorite Reads
For those who are getting cabin fever from self-isolating, I recommend reading a good book to get you through the long days! Here are a few of my all-time favorite books that will whisk you away to another world.
Little Fires Everywhere
Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of long-held secrets and the ferocious pull of motherhood-and the danger of believing that planning and following the rules can avert disaster, or heartbreak. I read this book several months ago and I still feel haunted by the complex questions raised by it.
Monkey Beach
A profoundly moving story about childhood and the pain of growing older--a multilayered tale of family grief and redemption. This book was introduced to me in my indigenous literature class, and it was a game changer for me. It made me fall even deeper in love with the art of storytelling.
The Glass Castle
A tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that, despite its profound flaws, gave the author the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms. My heart will never heal from this read. It explores the complexity of a deeply flawed father and daughter relationship. It's also the book that really influenced my own writing.
The Joy Luck Club
With wit and sensitivity, Amy Tan examines the sometimes painful, often tender, and always deep connection between mothers and daughters. A poignant, incredibly enjoyable read!
Anne of Green Gables
As soon as Anne Shirley arrives at the snug white farmhouse called Green Gables, she is sure she wants to stay forever . . . but will the Cuthberts send her back to to the orphanage? Anne knows she's not what they expected—a skinny girl with fiery red hair and a temper to match. If only she can convince them to let her stay, she'll try very hard not to keep rushing headlong into scrapes and blurting out the first thing that comes to her mind. Anne is not like anyone else, the Cuthberts agree; she is special—a girl with an enormous imagination. This orphan girl dreams of the day when she can call herself Anne of Green Gables. This is the world I could escape to over and over again, and know I'll leave it with a warm heart and the brightest smile.
Persuasion
Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen's most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne's family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love? THE BEST LOVE STORY. PERIOD.
I've been doing a lot of reading myself while stuck at home, especially now that I'm done with my deadline! I finished writing Book 2 (official title: THE FOREST OF STOLEN GIRLS) a few days ago, and now I'm trying to learn how to rest.
I finished reading The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (I highly recommend it if you're into books about female friendships and espionage) and started reading Possession by A.S. Byatt, and I'm obsessed! It's about two literary critics who are trying to solve a mystery, and the clues lurk in university libraries, old letters, and dusty journals. This book has been satisfying my nostalgia for university life. If you know of any other good books that take place in universities, please let me know :)
Also...did you know? The next newsletter I send out in April will be to announce the publication of THE SILENCE OF BONES! In that newsletter I'll share my experience leading up to my debut, and what it felt like to hold a hardcover copy of my book for the first time -- after spending a decade working towards this moment!
Thank you for reading, as always.
Bye for now!
June
Pre-order THE SILENCE OF BONES!
Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Amazon | Books-A-Million | Powell's | Target
For my fellow Canadians:
Indigo | Amazon
For those who live outside of North America (BD ships worldwide):
Book Depository
THE FOREST OF STOLEN GIRLS:
The unofficial summary: Two estranged sisters must search for their missing father, who happens to be the greatest detective in all of Joseon, Korea.
No pre-order links at the moment, but I'd love for you to add it on Goodreads.
